Desert Centre – Triumph Registar of America

Monthly Archives: April 2007

Oil is Killing Our Cars

 OIL IS KILLING OUR CARS!!!!!

By: Keith Ansell, Foreign Parts Positively, Inc.

About a year ago I read about the reduction of zinc dialkyl dithiophosphate (ZDDP) in the oils supplied with API approval that could affect sliding and high pressure (EP) friction in our cars. The reduction of these chemicals in supplied oils was based on the fact that phosphates reduce the effectiveness and eventually damage catalytic converters and introduce minute amounts of pollutants into our atmosphere.

A couple of months ago I had a member of the Columbia Gorge MG Club bring a totally failed camshaft and lifters back to me that had only 900 miles on them!! I immediately contacted the camshaft re-grinder (Delta Cam) and asked how this could happen. They were well aware of this problem as they were starting to have many failures of this type. In the past, the lack of a molybdenum disulfide camshaft assembly lubricant, at assembly, was about the only thing that could create this type of problem. My customer has assembled many engines and had lubricated the camshaft properly. Then the bad news came out: It’s today’s “modern” API (American Petroleum Industry) approved oils that are killing our engines: Meaning all flat tappet (cam follower) equipped engines, as used in all BMC products, all British Leyland products, most pushrod engines prior to 1980, early Volvos, American high-performance engines and many others.

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Memorial Day Weekend Pool Party – RESCHEDULED

TO ALL DCTRA MEMBERS,

Please remember that due to a family matter I had to reschedule the DCTRA pool party from Saturday (5/26/07) to Saturday (6/23/07) at my home in N. Scottsdale arrival time anytime after 5pm.

My family and I  really look forward to seeing you all that weekend. Please call me anytime in June to determine what you could contribute to the party to enhance the festivities!!!

Have a great Memorial Day weekend…….


 Mike Long and his family are hosting a Memorial Day Pool / Dinner Party at his home in N. Scottsdale on Saturday (6/23/07), arrival anytime after 5pm. Make sure you bring your bathing suits and Triumph cars for an evening of socializing and partying to welcome the beginning of summer in the Valley of the Sun. If you would like to bring something to the party to contribute please feel free to call Mike anytime at 480-544-8355 to determine what that item will be…

I live in a Cul de sac, so parking your cars will not be a problem. I will email directions to my home in June to all members and we can finalize these plans at the next club meeting on 6/12/07….

I really hope you can pencil in this Saturday evening party date for us all to get together and have a memorable and fun filled night !!!!!

** This way Speros will have something interesting and maybe even provocative to write-up in his soon to be unveiled DCTRA newsletter, we’ll soon see……

Mike Long's 74 SPITFIRE 1500

long-spitfire.jpg 

This 1974 Red Triumph Spitfire 1500 I purchased for $350.00 in 1978 when I was just 18 years old. My best high school friend sold me the car. I’m still good friends with Bobby Alford today. He can’t believe I still own and drive this little sports car and it looks the way it does! It was a machine I saw great potential in when I was young and naive. However, at the time I bought it the car was an absolute jalopy and ready for the junkyard. It quietly sat in my parent’s driveway for almost 3 years continuing to deteriorate from the dampness, rain, and salt air parked near the Atlantic Ocean due to a lack of financial resources on my part. I was actually able to get the car running in 1981 and drove it everyday to college and evening work until I graduated in 1987. It was at this time that I began to restore it to the state that it enjoys today! It took me over 3 years and a ridiculous amount of money to resurrect the car from the dead. Finally in 1991, the restoration of this vehicle was completed. This car represents an enormous piece of my adult life from teenage years to middle age and all in between. Everytime somebody in public compliments me about how they think my car is cute or nice, I nostalgically remember what I had to endure over many years of headaches and expense to attain that wonderful and deeply appreciated comment! Somehow it all becomes worthwhile just from kind words from a stranger……I fully expect to have this car for the rest of my life at which time my beloved daughter Aubrey will inherit this double edged yet fun filled extinct sword born in Great Britain…

Curves of Steel Club Outing

The DCTRA Club is planning a group outing on Saturday (5/12/07) at 10am at the Phoenix Art Museum. We will be viewing the Curves of Steel automobile exhibit. Tickets for this event are $14.00 at the front door for anyone over age 18. Please make plans to join us for a fun filled day and terrific conversation….

Upcoming Events
May
14
Tue
6:00 pm Monthly DCTRA Meeting @ Denny’s Restaurant
Monthly DCTRA Meeting @ Denny’s Restaurant
May 14 @ 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Normal Meeting Schedule 6:00 pm for dinner 7:00 pm for the Business Meeting The January Meeting is held at a different location as a Sunday morning bunch for the election of Officers.
Jun
11
Tue
6:00 pm Monthly DCTRA Meeting @ Denny’s Restaurant
Monthly DCTRA Meeting @ Denny’s Restaurant
Jun 11 @ 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Normal Meeting Schedule 6:00 pm for dinner 7:00 pm for the Business Meeting The January Meeting is held at a different location as a Sunday morning bunch for the election of Officers.